EGOamp - Replika
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Debut album of EGOamp project, alike announcing it EP, brought a lot of confusion in the rapidly developing world of the German electronic scene. Inspired by the German silent movies from the 20’s "Welcome to the Cabinet" has shown, that when it comes to exploring the secrets of dark electronics, German artists can still afford a lot. While the body and soul of EGOamp - Asmodi Caligari - apparently collects forces before recording a new material, all who were interested got into their hands a minor little book, realized with the help of more or less known bands from the international electronic scene. Replica is a collection of covers (with two exceptions), established under the slogan "Become a Caligari". It is an idea as fascinating, as risky.
The material consists of five covers and unpublished versions of the songs of Caligari himself. The opening of Replica is made by Eternal Nightmare band - track "Egomanic Maniacs". Compared to the original, the cover is clearly losing the pace, group gives up too with lush electronics passionately used by Caligari for more rock, heavier sound. It is a moody, guitar piece, where electronic motifs form a complementary to the whole background. Eternal Nightmare put on originality, unlike Menschliche Energie in "The Camera". There the track’s base basically remains unchanged from the original - the same subdued beat and steady rate. Band gave up only on samples, that made the composition a bit more severe. In the case of "The Carnival" by The Atone, it is similarly. We get saturated with electronics, restless song, that differs from the original only by a more subdued, dim beat. Composition is dark, strongly rooted in the musical climate of the early 80’s. The cover from Nightchild "We are freaks" also strongly suppresses hard beats, preparing the same place for guitars and heavily accented rhythm piece. Next in turn The Veil, made by Schimmer, unexpectedly has many new things: instead of track dripping with synthesizers we get a riff one, sung by female vocal - unfortunately, the weakest of all. Then it comes Caligari’s demo "We are the freaks" – balanced, all with electronics, somewhat experimental, and therefore it stands out from the toned covers. "Replica" is crowned with a remix of the song from the debut album, "Holstenwall" - sharp and throbbing, the most expressive work throughout the record.
This should be underlined: the idea of giving own work into the hands of other artists according to frame of the music experiment, in fact, is something admirable. But it is difficult to precisely determine, how that experiment succeeded in that case. Covers are based largely on original pieces, twisting and turning some of their elements, making them almost independent works - and that is good. As cover versions they are performed very well - although sometimes it seems, that musicians made rather a tribute to icons like Joy Division, landing deep in the sound of the 80’s. Unfortunately - as independent works most of them falls as average ones. They sound similar, and you rather begin to get bored quickly. Depending on, whether the listener is looking for a well programmed reinterpretations of the original tracks, or simply expressive ones, based on the well known music scheme – will feel satisfied or dissatisfied. Anyway – it is an interesting variety for all who are curious.
Tracklist:
1. Eternal Nightmare - Egomanic Maniacs
2. Menschliche Energie - The Camera
3. The Atone - The Carnival (Red Nose Killer Mix)
4. The Nightchild - We Are Freaks
5. Schimmer - The Veil
6. We Are Freaks (Original Demo)
7. Holstenwall (Andyage Remix)
The material consists of five covers and unpublished versions of the songs of Caligari himself. The opening of Replica is made by Eternal Nightmare band - track "Egomanic Maniacs". Compared to the original, the cover is clearly losing the pace, group gives up too with lush electronics passionately used by Caligari for more rock, heavier sound. It is a moody, guitar piece, where electronic motifs form a complementary to the whole background. Eternal Nightmare put on originality, unlike Menschliche Energie in "The Camera". There the track’s base basically remains unchanged from the original - the same subdued beat and steady rate. Band gave up only on samples, that made the composition a bit more severe. In the case of "The Carnival" by The Atone, it is similarly. We get saturated with electronics, restless song, that differs from the original only by a more subdued, dim beat. Composition is dark, strongly rooted in the musical climate of the early 80’s. The cover from Nightchild "We are freaks" also strongly suppresses hard beats, preparing the same place for guitars and heavily accented rhythm piece. Next in turn The Veil, made by Schimmer, unexpectedly has many new things: instead of track dripping with synthesizers we get a riff one, sung by female vocal - unfortunately, the weakest of all. Then it comes Caligari’s demo "We are the freaks" – balanced, all with electronics, somewhat experimental, and therefore it stands out from the toned covers. "Replica" is crowned with a remix of the song from the debut album, "Holstenwall" - sharp and throbbing, the most expressive work throughout the record.
This should be underlined: the idea of giving own work into the hands of other artists according to frame of the music experiment, in fact, is something admirable. But it is difficult to precisely determine, how that experiment succeeded in that case. Covers are based largely on original pieces, twisting and turning some of their elements, making them almost independent works - and that is good. As cover versions they are performed very well - although sometimes it seems, that musicians made rather a tribute to icons like Joy Division, landing deep in the sound of the 80’s. Unfortunately - as independent works most of them falls as average ones. They sound similar, and you rather begin to get bored quickly. Depending on, whether the listener is looking for a well programmed reinterpretations of the original tracks, or simply expressive ones, based on the well known music scheme – will feel satisfied or dissatisfied. Anyway – it is an interesting variety for all who are curious.
Tracklist:
1. Eternal Nightmare - Egomanic Maniacs
2. Menschliche Energie - The Camera
3. The Atone - The Carnival (Red Nose Killer Mix)
4. The Nightchild - We Are Freaks
5. Schimmer - The Veil
6. We Are Freaks (Original Demo)
7. Holstenwall (Andyage Remix)
